Melody Monkey Training Courses - February and May

Melody Monkey Training Courses - February and May
A new course to teach early year's workers how to use Melody Monkey's Marvellous Music Box is being offered by Music4U - the Humber Region Youth Music Action Zone.
Melody Monkey's Marvellous Music Box which was created in 2001, is a highly successful early years resource in the form of a portable musical box containing instruments, animal puppets, games, songs, stories and CDs and offering a wide range of activities as part of music making sessions for young people. Included in the Box, is a Songbook crammed full of songs and stories for the young people listen to and sing. The resource has been designed for those with little or no musical experience and is used by early years workers, childminders and other professionals working with the under 5s, the length and breadth of the country.
The half-day course has been set up to give music deliverers the chance to find out more about how to use the Box most effectively. In 2008 the course is running on Thursday 7 February and Friday 9 May (10am - 2pm), at the National Centre for Early Music in York and will be run by Sue Hollingworth. Sue is co-creator of the Box and also a Senior Advisory Teacher for the Voices Foundation and part-time Music Advisor to North Lincolnshire.
The content of the course has been designed to get the most of out using the Melody Monkey Marvellous Music Box and includes the following aspects related to child development:

Learning song repertoire suitable for the Foundation stage

Using puppets, lycra and other props in the musical session

What music can do for the development of the whole child

The use of instruments in music sessions

How to improvise songs for any situation

Incorporating music into stories and storytime

Creating an indoor and outdoor music area

The concepts of pulse, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, pitch and timbre for early years

Delma Tomlin, Director of Music4U explained that the course had been set up due to the number of requests from different organisations to find out more about the ethos behind the creation of the Box: "We are delighted that Sue will run these courses for Music4U. She has a wealth of experience in early years singing and I am sure that those who attend will discover that the contents in the Box can be used in many different ways and is a excellent musical tool for working with very young children.The half-day course costs £60 per person (including lunch) plus VAT. All participants will receive a 20% discount on the Melody Monkey Marvellous Music Box if ordered on the day. The Box normally costs £185 plus VAT.
To be sent a booking form for the training course and to receive more information on the Melody Monkey Marvellous Music Box email info@humber-music4u.com or ring 01904 632220.
Ends

Press Contact: Melanie Paris on 01904 632220 or Sam Sumerfield on 07968 558118
E Mail: press@humber-music4u.com
Web Address: www.humber-music4u.com
Editors Notes:
This project was organised by Music4U - The Humber Region Youth Music Action Zone. Music4U is co-ordinated by the National Centre for Early Music working in partnership with the East Riding of Yorkshire, Hull, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire Councils. The Action Zones have been instigated and funded by Youth Music and are supported by Arts Council England, Yorkshire. More info is available at http://www.humber-music4u.com/
Youth Music is a UK-wide charity that funds and facilitates music making for young people up to the age of 18, particularly those living in areas of social and economic need. By 2010, Youth Music aims to have reached 3 million children and young people in a UK-wide strategy to support youth music making. More info is available at http://www.youthmusic.org.uk/